Feeding mechanism for sewing-machines



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. GARDNER. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 447,401. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. GARDNER. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 447,401.

Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

GARDNER. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MAGHINES.

No; 447,401. Patented Mar. 3,1891.

(No Model.) Agnew-sheet 4.

GARDNER. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWINGMAGHINES.

No. 447,401. I Patented Mar. 3, 1 891.

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I 2 5 in-after described, and pointed out in the ap- UNITED STATES i ATENT Price.

MARSHALL GARDNER, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS H. BALL AND JAMES STONE, OF SAME PLACE, AND SIMON FLORSHEIM, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,401, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed September 16, 1889. Serial No. 323,538r (N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSHALL GARDNER, of Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in feed devices for sewing-machines.

The invention is herein shown as applied to asewing-machine of that class having a I 5 plurality of needles and shuttles and commonly denominated gang machines, but the improvements herein described may be equally Well applied to machines having only a single needle and shuttle.

In some of its features the machine herein shown is an improvement upon the machine illustrated in a prior application for patent, Serial No. 275,742, filed June 1, 1888.

The invention consists in the matters herepended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a sewing-machine embodying my invention, taken longitudinally through the frame-arm thereof. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken upon line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section taken upon line 3 8 of Fig. 1. (Fig. i is a central section taken 5 upon line 4: 4: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a rear View of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In said drawings, A indicates the workplate of the machine; B, a supporting frame or arm extending over said plate, and C, Fig.

40 3, a vertically-reciprocating needle-bar having bearings in the said frame.

D is a horizontal crank-shaft having suitable bearings in the frame B, said shaft being provided with the usual drive-pulley outside of theframe (not shown) and with a crank D engaging a pitman D (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) by which the crank is connected with the needle-bar C.

The machine herein shown is what is known as a gang machine, orone adapted for sew- 5o ing a number of lines of stitches side by side, and said machine is provided at the lower end of-the needle-bar with a series of needles E E E and with a corresponding series of shuttles F F F.

G G are two castings located beneath the work-plate A of the machine, provided with a series of circular guide-grooves g g, forming guides or races for the shuttles, which are air cular or of disk shape, and the peripheries of which are engaged with the said guide grooves or races. The part or casting G, which em braces about one-half of the diameter of the circular shuttle-races, Fig. 3, is permanently affiXed to the work-plate of the machine, while the other part or casting G is movable, and is pivotally connected with the stationary part G, so that said movable part may be swung outwardly to allow the insertion and removal of the shuttles. As shown in the drawings, the casting G is connected by a pivot-pin g with the casting G, and is provided with a spring catch, or detent G adapted to engage with work-plate for holding the said casting G inplace.

' Ihe several shuttles are actuated by means of an oscillating shuttle-driver H of seg- 7 mental form in cross-section .which is located in a space formed at the sides of the several shuttles within the castings G G. Said shut- 8o tles contain central circular recesses concentric with the axis of rotation of the shuttles for containing a closely-wound mass of thread or cop F, which fits closely Within said recess, and is so wound that the thread may be freely drawn from the center thereof.

The shuttles and means for supporting and actuating the same are like the corresponding parts shown in a separate application for patent, Serial No. 282,999, filed August 17, 1888, and are not in themselves claimed as part of this invention.

The feed devices of the machine embrace feed-dogs located both above and below the work and arranged to grip and carry forward the same in connection with a presser-foot located above the work plate and acting against the latter to hold the work from backward movement during the time the feeddogs are being carried backward preparatory to each advance movement thereof. Said parts are constructed in detail, and means for actuating the same are provided as follows: I is a presser-foot located above the work-table, and J is a vertically and horizontally reciprocating feed-dog operating in the manner of what is commonly known as a four-motion feed. K is a second feed-dog acting through slots or openings in the workplate and operating upon the under surface of the cloth in opposition to the feed-dog J. Means are provided for actuating the said presser-foot and feed-dogs in such manner that the feed-dogs are brought together and moved forward at the time the presser-foot is lifted to release the material beneath it, and the Presser-foot is thrust downwardly to firmly hold the material at the time the feed-dogs are separated and are being carried backwardly preparatory to another forward movement thereof. For the general purposes of this invention, motion may be given to the Presser-foot and to the feed-dogs in any manner found convenient or desirable. I have, however, herein illustrated devices for moving the said parts which embrace certain features of novelty, as will hereinafter appear. The said presser-foot and feed-dogs also embrace in themselves certain features of construction adapting them for use in gang machines; but these features, although novel, are not claimed herein, having been illustrated and described in the separate application for patent, Serial No. 275,712, hereinbefore referred to. Said presser-foot and feed-dogs for the purpose last referred to are made with interpenetrating projections or fingers, so that they may act upon the material being operated upon at points adjacent to and between each of the several needles of a gang machine. Said presser-foot I is made of suitable width to embrace the several needles of the machine, and is provided with holes '1; i t', severally receiving the needles. In the lower surface of the presser foot, in the same vertical planes with the needles, is arranged a series of downwardly-projecting teeth or flanges z" i 2", Figs. 1 and 3, ar ranged to bear upon the material both at the front and in the rearof the needles. The projections or fingersjj, Figs. 1 and 3, of the up per feed-dog extend into the spaces between the projections or flanges of the presser-foot and between the needles, so that they press upon the work at both sides of each needle. This construction is fully illustrated and described in said prior application, Serial No. 275,742. The lower feed-dog K, herein illustrated, is constructed in the same manner as the feed-dog J, being provided with a series of projections or fingers k k 7.3, which enter openings or slots at a, formed in the throat-plate A of the machine between the needle-apertures a? a of said throat-plate, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The devices herein illustrated for supporting and actuating the presser-foot I are made as follows: I I 1 are vertical rods mounted to slide in guide-recesses b b b of the frame B and rigidly secured at their lower ends to the presser-foot I. l Fare spiral springs applied to throw the presser-foot downwardly, said springs being located, as herein shown, in the guide-recesses Z) b of the frame above the rods I I. I", Fig. 3, isa bell-crank lever mounted upon a pivot 2' and provided with a horizontal arm, which extends inwardly through a slot or opening in the frame-casting and engages the center rod 1 Said lever I has an upwardly-extending arm, which is engaged with a depending rigid arm I upon a rock-shaft I, which is mounted at the upper part of the frame-arm at the rear side of the latter. Said rock-shaft is provided with a second rigid arm I which extends inwardly to a point beneath the crank-shaft D and is adapted to engage a cam 1 upon said shaft, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. I11 the operation of this device the cam 1 acting upon the arm 1 gives an oscillatory motion to the rocleshaft I", which is transmitted through the medium of the arm I and lever I to the presser-foot. As herein shown, the lever 1 is provided at its upper end with an adjustable bearing-point conveniently madein the form of a set-screw '6 inserted through the said lever and bearing against the lower end of the arm 1 said set-screw serving as a means whereby the extent of movement of the presser-foot may be con.- trolled as desired.

Ilo enable the presser-foot to be lifted from the work-plate independently of the actuating devices described, devices are provided as follows: L is a rock-shaft mounted upon the frame-arm at the rear of the latter. Said rockshaft is provided with a crank L at a point opposite the upwardly-extending arm I of the lever 1*, the parts being so arranged that when the shaft is turned the upperend of the lever will be thrust outward by the action of the cam, with the effect of lifting the horizontal part of said lever, and thus raising the presser-foot. The shaft L is provided with a button or handle L by which it may be turned for lifting the presser-foot.

The devices employed for sustaining and actuating the upper feed-dog J are made as follows: Said feed-dog is attached to the lower end of a vertical bar J, which extends upwardly through the frame-arm and the upper end of which is located adjacent to the shaft D. Said bar J is supported upon the frame arm by engagement with a block j, which fits and slides in a longitudinal slotj in the bar,

said block being mounted on a stationary pin which forms a pivotal support for the block, and about which the said bar J turns or oscillates as said bar is moved for actuating the feed-dog, in the maunerhereinafter described. lhe vertical movement of the feed-dog is afforded by the sliding of the said bar J upon the block j, while the horizontal movement of the said dog isafforded by the swinging of said bar upon the pivot-pin 7' The devices for giving motion to the said bar J are constructed as follows: M is ,a spiral spring located within a recess b Fig. 5, of the frame and acting against a lug j upon the plate J to thrust said plate downward and carry or hold the feed'dog against the work. Said spring is herein shown as placed around a vertical pin m, which extends through a guide aperture formed in the upper end of the recess 12 said rod being provided above said aperture with a collar or projection m, secured thereto and adapted for contact with the frame to limit the downward movement of the pin, and at its lower end with a head m against which the end of the spring acts, and which is adapted to rest in contact with the upper surface of the lug 7' The spring must of course be arranged to allow free latoral movement of the plate J, as the latter is turned or swung about the pivot j and the pin m is for this purpose provided with the head m which has aflat face resting in contact with the lugj and adapted to slide freely on said lug as the latter is moved with the plate. This construction in the spring M affords one convenient way of applyinga spring to throw the bar J downwardly; but it will of course be understood that a spring for this purpose may be constructed or applied in any other convenient manner. The plate J is provided at its upper end with a yoke J which surrounds the crank-shaft D. Said voke is constructed to engage with two cams N N upon said crank-shaft, said cams being so arranged to give a combined horizontal and vertical movement to the yoke, which movement is transmitted to the feed-dog by means of the bar J, connecting said parts. One N of said cams is arranged to act upon opposite vertical hearing-faces J 3' of the yoke J 2 in such manner as to move the .said yoke horizontally, and to thereby swing the plate J about the pivot ]2. 'The cam shown is shaped in a Well-known manner I to remain constantly-in bearing with both of the bearing-faces 3' 9' of the yoke; but any other form of cam or other device adapted to give the necessary horizontal movement to the yoke may be employed without departure from my invention. The other cam N operates upon-a horizontal surface 3 of the yoke J located above said cam in such manner as to lift the bar J against the action of the spring lWI. The cams N and N are located side by side, and the bearing-surfaces ff of the yoke J 2 are arranged in different vertical planes, so that the cams may operate thereon independently of each other.

In orderto enable the feed-dog J to be lifted clear of the work for removing or inserting the latter at a time when the cam l is free from the yoke and said feed-dog is held downwardly by the action of the spring M, I have provided a lifting device, acting on the plate J to raise the latter against the act-ion of the spring and hold it in its elevated position. Inasmuch as the said feed-dog J will commonly need to be lifted at the same time the presser-foot is lifted, I have provided, in addition to the cam upon the rock-shaft L, by which the presser-foot is actuated, devices for also lifting the feed-dog when said shaft is turned. For this purpose said shaft is provided with an eccentric L Fig. 4, which is adapted to act upon the lower surface of a lug or arm J whichextends rearwardly from the bar J at a point over or above the said eccentric This construction is of great convenience, for the reason that by turning the handle L both the presser-foot and the upper feed-dog will be lifted free from the work.

Devices for giving motion to the lower feeddog K are constructed as follows: Said feeddog is attached to and supported by a hori zontal bar K, which bar, in the particular construction shown, is located beneath the work-plate of the machine at the rear of the shuttles, this construction being necessary for the fact that the series of shuttles in a gangmachine prevent the parts which support the feed-dog being located immediatelyadjacent to the throat-plate. The feed-dog is connected with the said bar K by means of an arm 7;, extending through an opening or re- 4 cess in the casting G, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The bar K is supported at its outer end by means of a stationary pin 0, which is sustained in brackets O O at a point beneath the work-plate and parallel with the latter and with the drive-shaft D of the machine. Said pin is adapted to engage a horizontal slot 10 formed in the said bar K in such manner as to hold the said bar from twisting, while at the same time allowing the bar to slide longitudinally and permitting a vertical movement ill ills free end or that to which the feed-dog is attached. At its ends adjacent to the feed-dog said bar K is supported by means of a horizontally-arranged lever P, which is connected between its ends to the work-plate or machine-frame by a universal joint, and is engaged at one end with the said bar K and at its opposite end with a device by which vertical and horizontal oscillatory movement is given to the lever and to the end of the said bar K engaged therewith. In the particular construction illustrated the lever P is .mounted on a vertical stud P, which is pivotally connected with the work-plate by means of a horizontal pivot-pin p. The end of the said lever engaged with the bar K is made spherical or provided with a ball 19, which is engaged with an aperture k formed in said bar. A set-screw 70 Fig. 3, passing through the bar and entering the recess k serves to take up any lost. motion in a vertical direction caused by the wearing of the parts. The opposite end of the lever P is provided with a similar spherical part or ball 13 IIO Horizontal and vertical movement is given to the end of the lever P by devices made as follows: Q is a vertically-arranged bar engaged at its lower end with the lever I and extending upwardly through the hollow standard of the fran1e-arm to a point adjacent to the shaft D, where it is provided with a yoke Q, surrounding said shaft. At its middle part the bar Q is provided with a vertical slot q, which is adapted for engagement with a block R, which is mounted on a horizontal pivot R, attached to the frame-arm. The .lower end of the plate Q is provided with a recess q, within which the ball 19 is located, said recess being convenient] y provided with a cushion of leather or similar substance, located against its upper wall to afford a slightly-yielding hearing for the ball 1 The yoke Q is provided with two opposite vertical bearing-surfaces q q and with two horizontal bearing-surfaces If said surfaces (1 and q q being located in different vertical planes. S is a cam attached to the shaft 1) and engaging the opposite vertical bearingsurfaces q" (1 so as to give horizontal motion to the upper end of the plate Q. S is a cam or eccentric, also secured to said shaft and engaging the horizontal bearing-surfaces (1", so as to give vertical movement to the said plate Q. The cams S and S are so located on the shaft D with reference to the cams N and N, by which the upper feed-dog is actuated, that the upper and lower feed-dogs are moved in unison, the upper dog being depressed when the lower dog is elevated, so that the dogs are separated and brought together in a manner to alternately grip and disengage the cloth, and are at the same time moved backward and forward, so as to carry forward the cloth when engaged therewith. As hereinbefore described, the presser-foot I is raised free from the throat-plate at the time the upper feed-dog is depressed, so that the said presser-foot is lifted at the time the feed-dogs are engaged with and carrying forward the cloth and is depressed to hold the cloth against the throat-plate, and thereby prevent movement thereof during the time the feed-dogs are separated and are moving backward.

The pivot R, which supports the bar Q, is shown as made adjustable on the machineframe in a direction longitudinally of the said bar, and the pivot-pin j which similarly supports the bar J, is similarly made adjustable in the same manner, the object of this construction being to enable the throw of the feed-dogs horizontally to be changed so as to make a longer or shorter stitch, it being entirely obvious that by shifting said pivot-pins R and which form the fulcru ms of the bars J and Q, the extent of horizontal movement in the ends of said plates remote from the driving-cams may be varied as desired. For effecting the adjustment described the pin is inserted through a vertical slot N, Fig. 5, in the frame-arm B, and is provided outside of the frame-arm with a thumb-nut J, by which a collar or shoulder on the pin may be clamped against the frame at the side of the slot, and the pin thereby secured in position. The pivot-pin R is similarlysecured in a slot Win the vertical standard of the frame-arm by means of a thumbnut R which acts to clamp a shoulder or collar 0' of said pin against the frame at the sides of the slot.

A presser-foot and two feed-dogs constructed and operating in the manner described I consider to be broadly novel, and a construction embracing these parts is herein claimed as my invention without limitation to any particular devices for actuating said presser-foot and feed-dogs, inasmuch as any one of a number of well-known forms of actuating devices may be employed to give the desired relative motion to the parts named. A feeding device of the character herein set forth is of special advantage in gang-machines and in machines employed for making corsets and all other articles where two layers of cloth are operated upon, for the reason that the double feed-dogs acting above and below the work or both layers of cloth insure a perfect and equal feed thereof. In the employment of other kinds of feeding devices for similar purposes, especially where the upper and lower layers of cloth are formed of different kinds of material, the layers are likely to feed unevenly, that with which the feed-dog comes in contact being often carried forward more rapidly than the other layer.

I claim as my invention A feed device for sewing-machines, comprising two feed-dogs, one located below and the other above the work, and means for actuating said dogs, comprising two bars pivotally supported at points between their ends and severally connected with and actuating said feed-dogs, a single driving-shaft provided with a series of pairs of cams, one pair engaging each of said bars and giving both longitudinal and lateral movement thereto, and shifting-pivots severally engaging and supporting said bars, whereby the length of the stitch maybe changed, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARSHALL GARDNER.

Witnesses:

O. CLARENCE POOLE, HARRY COBB KENNEDY. 

